Dealing With Ruts...

sm31

sm31

Active Member
In AK, the local roads and what few highways we have are all pretty severely rutted out because studs are legal here... and that's a good thing because we really need them.

Problem is, I have a lot of trouble dealing with lane changes, etc. without nearly losing control sometimes. Current setup is nothing too extreme... 2.5" Clayton lift & 35's on 16" beads with close-to-stock backspacing. Tire wear has been fantastic for years and the jeep tracks straight, so I always ASSumed my alignment was correct. But is this a sign that I need more toe-in or something? Is it just a "feature"? Thanks!
 
Definitely need a lot more info. "Losing control" sounds pretty severe so if you could better describe what you're feeling, it'd be a lot more helpful. Especially if your wear is "fantastic" and the Jeep "tracks straight."
 
Sorry about that... honestly it is sort of severe, and it takes me by surprise because in basically all other situations, it handles great.

To describe it in more detail. It feels like the jeep "falls into" ruts and doesn't want to come out. When I finally give it enough input to change lanes or whatever, the jeep can feel like it virtually jumps out of the rut, causing it to suddenly swerve into the next lane. Additionally, I have to give a lot of steering input to remain centered in my lane sometimes if I'm riding one side of the rut or the other. The issue is mainly prevalent at hwy speeds.

Hope that makes sense!
 
sm31 said:
Sorry about that... honestly it is sort of severe, and it takes me by surprise because in basically all other situations, it handles great.

To describe it in more detail. It feels like the jeep "falls into" ruts and doesn't want to come out. When I finally give it enough input to change lanes or whatever, the jeep can feel like it virtually jumps out of the rut, causing it to suddenly swerve into the next lane. Additionally, I have to give a lot of steering input to remain centered in my lane sometimes if I'm riding one side of the rut or the other. The issue is mainly prevalent at hwy speeds.

Hope that makes sense!
Click to expand...
Sounds likes the roads then. Maybe move? Lol
 
We just put a 2.5 lift & 35's on the wifes JKU and its there's a noticeable increase in the wandering on roads that have the worn areas where the wheels track. Different strips of blacktop, like when they repave a foot wide strip in-between the two lanes will cause a noticeable wiggle too. My thoughts have always been that its the wider tires that tend to follow the wear patterns in the road more
 
sm31 said:
Sorry about that... honestly it is sort of severe, and it takes me by surprise because in basically all other situations, it handles great.

To describe it in more detail. It feels like the jeep "falls into" ruts and doesn't want to come out. When I finally give it enough input to change lanes or whatever, the jeep can feel like it virtually jumps out of the rut, causing it to suddenly swerve into the next lane. Additionally, I have to give a lot of steering input to remain centered in my lane sometimes if I'm riding one side of the rut or the other. The issue is mainly prevalent at hwy speeds.

Hope that makes sense!
Click to expand...
I get that feeling on a few roads here in Montana as well. I thought it was just my JKU and deal with it. It’s only at highway speeds that I notice it too.
 
sounds like you have a little bump steer. I dealt with that on my JKU, the road would grab it but when I'd correct it would get a little extra kick and over steer. 3" lift but enough change to get things out of parallel

Drag link flip solved my issue
 
jeeeep said:
sounds like you have a little bump steer. I dealt with that on my JKU, the road would grab it but when I'd correct it would get a little extra kick and over steer. 3" lift but enough change to get things out of parallel

Drag link flip solved my issue
Click to expand...

I may try that. Thanks!
 
sm31 said:
Sorry about that... honestly it is sort of severe, and it takes me by surprise because in basically all other situations, it handles great.

To describe it in more detail. It feels like the jeep "falls into" ruts and doesn't want to come out. When I finally give it enough input to change lanes or whatever, the jeep can feel like it virtually jumps out of the rut, causing it to suddenly swerve into the next lane. Additionally, I have to give a lot of steering input to remain centered in my lane sometimes if I'm riding one side of the rut or the other. The issue is mainly prevalent at hwy speeds.

Hope that makes sense!
Click to expand...
Since somehow nobody mentioned it, be sure to check for loose/wallowed steering related components. With the tires on a solid surface, have someone move the steering wheel back and forth a little bit and look for joints which are moving when they shouldn't be.

Alaska is pretty harsh on suspensions, steering components, and just about everything else.
 
sm31 said:
In AK, the local roads and what few highways we have are all pretty severely rutted out because studs are legal here... and that's a good thing because we really need them.

Problem is, I have a lot of trouble dealing with lane changes, etc. without nearly losing control sometimes. Current setup is nothing too extreme... 2.5" Clayton lift & 35's on 16" beads with close-to-stock backspacing. Tire wear has been fantastic for years and the jeep tracks straight, so I always ASSumed my alignment was correct. But is this a sign that I need more toe-in or something? Is it just a "feature"? Thanks!
Click to expand...
I drive i70 once or twice a week. There are sections that require all CMVs to carry chains starting next weekend until June of next year.

The two tire tracks on either side of the lanes are 8” deep in the center.

They paved the tunnel a few summers ago and it was back to rutted in one year.

If you know, you know.
It sucks.

Best thing I’ve done is PSC big bore and hydro assist ram, if you don’t already have it. Definitely reduces the effect of road input on your tires to your steering wheel.
 
Cousin Clyde said:
I drive i70 once or twice a week. There are sections that require all CMVs to carry chains starting next weekend until June of next year.

The two tire tracks on either side of the lanes are 8” deep in the center.

They paved the tunnel a few summers ago and it was back to rutted in one year.

If you know, you know.
It sucks.

Best thing I’ve done is PSC big bore and hydro assist ram, if you don’t already have it. Definitely reduces the effect of road input on your tires to your steering wheel.
Click to expand...
this^ psc doesn't care about ruts lol
 
Cousin Clyde said:
I drive i70 once or twice a week. There are sections that require all CMVs to carry chains starting next weekend until June of next year.

The two tire tracks on either side of the lanes are 8” deep in the center.

They paved the tunnel a few summers ago and it was back to rutted in one year.

If you know, you know.
It sucks.

Best thing I’ve done is PSC big bore and hydro assist ram, if you don’t already have it. Definitely reduces the effect of road input on your tires to your steering wheel.
Click to expand...

Definitely on my list of upgrades! Price is just enough to really sting... but if it keeps me out of a ditch then it's probably worth it. Lol...
 
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